Hearing Loss in Children with Down Syndrome

What types of hearing loss occur with Down syndrome?

Conductive Hearing Loss

• This is a common cause of hearing loss.
• Sound waves have a hard time making their way through the ear canal and reaching the inner ear. The body has a microphone, called a cochlea, located in the inner ear to help you hear. If this microphone does not get sound waves, there are no sound messages that can be sent to the brain.
• This type of hearing loss can be caused by a middle ear infection, fluid in the middle ears, or wax build up.
• If your child has conductive hearing loss, sometimes ear tubes might be necessary.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)

• This type of hearing loss is less common and usually permanent. It happens because of changes in the inner ear.
• Sometimes the body’s microphone, called the cochlea, is not sending sound messages to the brain. Other times, the auditory nerve, which carries sound messages to the brain, is not working.
• If your child has sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids can help.

Why does hearing loss happen?

The majority of hearing loss associated with Down syndrome is conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss happens a lot in children with Down syndrome because they often have the following:

• Narrow ear canals
• Serous otitis media (fluid in the middle ear)

Sensorineural hearing loss is less common than conductive hearing loss, but it does happen in many children with Down syndrome. It may be present at birth, or it may develop later in childhood. Make sure to bring your child for routine hearing tests even if your child has normal hearing screening as a newborn.

When is my child tested for hearing loss?

• Every infant with Down syndrome should receive a newborn hearing screen. This is done before your child is discharged from the newborn nursery.
• All infants with Down syndrome have their hearing tested again at 6 months of age with a hearing test called an “audiogram.”
• If there are no concerns, your child’s hearing should be tested every 6 months until normal hearing is confirmed in both ears.
• If there are concerns, your child will be referred to an ear, nose, and throat expert.
• Once normal hearing is confirmed in both ears, your child should continue to receive an audiogram every year.

 

Rev: 4/2013

This webpage is intended to provide health information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treatment of any medical conditions.